6_Glorious_Epochs_of_Indian_History

•3RD GLORIOUS EPOCH 105
which formed part of this Kushan empire threw away the
Kushan sovereignty and once again became independent.
During the century-old Saka-Kushan aggressive wars, the
Satavahanas had maintained the independence of their
•entire Southern India unimpaired; and now the north-Indian
states also, who had so far accepted the nominal overlordship
of Kanishka, renounced it and regained their independence**.
In this very confusion the principality of Pataliputra in the
eastern part of India also became independent.
ONCE AGAIN ROSE THE SUNKEN SUN OF
PATALIPUTRA
249. Pataliputra has been called a small principality
in the previous line. Our readers might feel that it is.a slip
of our pen. But it is not so. For during the deluge of the
Saka-Kushan aggressions at the beginning of the Christian
era the throne of Pataliputra, which was adorned by the
celebrated Emperors like Chandragupta, Asoka, Pushyamitra
and others and from which were guided for centuries together
the destinies of the all-India empire from the Himalayas to
the southern seas, was lost all of a sudden, just as the setting
;sun vanishes while we are still looking on and know not when
it has set. During the century-and-a-half of incessant Indian
Avar Avitb the Saka-Kushans that followed, the separate
existence of Pataliputra or Magadha was never felt. Some
non-entity of a king from somewhere ruled and lived within
the four walls of Pataliputra.
250. But about the year 300 A.D. was established on
this very principality of Pataliputra the rule of Lichchavi
Republic, which was knoAvn in Magadha from the times of
Lord Buddha**.
251. The daughter of the chief of this Lichchavi
Republic, Kumardevi, was wooed and married by a promising
youth, son of a feudal chief, named Chandragupta in 308 AD**.
With the strong support of the same Lichchavi Republic, he
• established his sway over the surrounding territory and in
• 320 A. D. he founded an independent kingdom in Pa tali-